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Things to do in London

London is the exciting, trend-setting and ever-changing capital city of England and the United Kingdom. As well as being one of the world's most important business and financial centres, London also has a significant influence on world politics, education, entertainment, media and fashion. In addition to having one of the most extensive transportation systems in the world, this huge city is also one of the most diverse cities on earth.

What you have to know about the UK before you go to London

In Britain cars drive on the left side of the road, people are polite, whilst also having a darker sense of humor and dinner is named 'tea'. All of these features make them such a unique people. Excentricity, exciting nightlife events, live-music and pubs are only a few of the reasons for why a visit to the British islands definitely pays off. Great Britain is also known to set global and especially European trends as well as offering an endless range of cultural treasures.

The United Kingdom is one of the EU's largest insular state. The UK is composed of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the surrounding British islands. The United Kingdom is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe as it is home to around 65,1 million citizens.

London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol are a few of the largest cities in Great Britain. You can find a total of 31 UNESCO world heritage sites on the island, as well as cultural and natural heritage sights. The Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Saint Margaret's Church, Stonehenge, Avebury and the Tower of London are examples of heritage sites that you can admire during your visit.

Important details in England

  • Capital city: London
  • Form of government: Constitutional Monarchy
  • Citizen count: 65.110.000
  • Emergency Police calls: 112
  • Emergency ambulance calls: 999
  • UK country code for calls: +44
  • Circuitry voltage: 240 volts

The geography of London

London extends about 45 km along the Thames. Until 1739 the London Bridge was the only bridge that crossed the river. The metropolitan city is located in the southeast of England and has about 8 million inhabitants. 3 million people live in the 13 city districts of Inner London. London is one of the most populous cities in the EU.

Sights and Museums

There are many sights and museums worth a visit in London. A lot of them play a big role in the history and culture of the city. In total you can explore more than 300 museums. If you buy the London Pass you get an All-inclusive access to more than 80 attractions including the tower of London, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, the Westminster Abbey and much more. You can also find a lot of museums which are free of charge.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Visit one of London's architectural masterpieces. Close to the Thames and the centre, St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the city's most popular buildings. During the visit you should not forget to visit the Whispering Gallery, which has a round balcony at the base of the dome. Anyone whispering against a wall can be heard on the other side of the dome.

London Parliament and Big Ben

The Houses of Parliament also known as Palace of Westminster and is the seat of the two British Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Until 1529 it was the residence of the King. The Palace of Westminster has three main towers. One of the three towers is probably the most famous part of the palace, the symbol of London, the Elizabeth Tower, which is also known as Big Ben. The clock tower is 96m high. Actually the name of the tower is not Big Ben, it's the great bell's name.

Buckingham Palace

The Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Royal Family, but it's more the workplace of the monarch today. You can watch changing the guards at the Palace. The ceremony starts every day at 10.45am. This ceremony is definitely worth a visit. It is open to the public during the summer months and for a limited number of tours in winter.

Portobello Road Market

Portobello Road is a street that leads through the neighbourhood of Nottinghill. From monday till sunday there is a market called "Portobello Road Market". The market has existed since the 19th century, but became famous only in the middle of the 20th century for its antiques. Actually the market is several markets in one. There is a fleamarket, foodmarket, fashionmarket and much more. By far the busiest days are friday and saturday.

Tower Bridge

Visit one of the most famous bridges in the world - London Tower Bridge. Opened in 1894 the bridge is one popular landmark of London. The 244 metre long bridge is built with giant moveable roadways that lifts up for big ships. It is an engineer's masterpiece. You can visit the birdge from inside and find out more about it's history. It is a must see attraction in London.

Westminster Abbey

The Westminster Abbey is one of the most popular gothic churches of the world and belongs to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites. Since 1066 it is Tradition that the monarchs of England are crowned and buried here in the heart of London.
A visit to this traditional and historically unique church, including the Historical Museum and its three beautiful gardens, should definitely be on the to do list of any London trip.

Interesting sights in London

London is a very diverse city that covers every area of interest. There is so much to see that one cannot list everything. Here are some more sights that are worth a visit in London.

  • British Museum: The British Museum has an enormous collection of artifacts on display from every corner of the globe. Admission is free (just like in most of London's most prestigious museums!), so antiquities enthusiasts have no excuse not to make a visit!
  • Royal Albert Hall: Since its opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall has played host to various concerts, conferences, ballroom dancing, ballet, opera and even a circus. This is by far the most magnificent concert venue in London!
  • Brick Lane: is a street in the East End, the alternative Area of London. The Brick Lane Market is a large market that leads through old factory buildings. It offers street food, antiques, vintage stuff and fashion. You'll also find a lot of street art in that area.
  • Tate Modern: Tate Modern, a former power station, is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the world. You can also go to the top of the museum's new extension for amazing views over London. Most of the galleries are free, so you'd be crazy not to go.
  • Notting Hill Carnival: The biggest street party in Europe, celebrating the cultures of the Caribbean islands, is free to attend and has a level of excitement and energy unmatched by anything else in London. With music ranging from reggae and Latin jazz to hip hop and drum 'n' bass, there's something to get everyone moving. Normally on the last Sunday and Monday of August, you're lucky if your trip coincides with this wonderful event!
  • Camden Market: antiques and bohemian atmosphere. The Camden Market consists of many markets and is located in the district of camden town. It is the largest and most famous market in London.
  • Natural History Museum: The Natural History Museum is one of the most fascinating and impressive museums in the world. Even before stepping inside, you will be awed by the elaborate architecture. With a vast range of exhibits and a reputation as the leading center of natural history in the world, you're in for a treat if you visit this 'cathedral to nature'! Two other great museums, The Science Museum and The Vicotria and Albert Museum, are also situated on the same road!
  • National Theatre: a giant theatre complex with 3 stages. The names of the stages are: Lyttelton Theatre, Olivier Theatre, Dorfman Theatre. The Royal National Theatre was chosen by the residents of London as one of the ten most popular and ten most hated buildings in London.
  • Billingsgate: biggest fishmarket in Europe. You will find 98 stands and 30 shops, including two cafes there and the largest selection of fish in the united kingdom.
  • Bermondsey Market: This historic London antique market has a wide range of antiques.
  • National Gallery: is an art museum in traffalgar square with 2,300 masterpieces from the 13th to the 19th century. It is one of the most comprehensive and important art galleries in the world.
  • The Courtauld Gallery: important impressionist and post-impressionist collection. The Courtauld Gallery is part of the Courtauld Institute of Art. It's specialised on art history and is part of the london university.
  • Harrods: one of the most renowned department stores in Europe! The most famous Harrods is located on Brompton Road in the west part of the city center. The builduing looks magical at night, because it is illuminated with thousands of lights.

Food in London

We recommend visiting the website www.timeout.com/london/restaurants for restaurant reviews and prices.

Cinema, Music, Theatre & Nightlife

There are hundreds of films shown per evening in London, from the biggest West End cinemas to the suburban and alternative cinemas. No city in the world has such a array of music venues as well as a very popular theatre scene. We recommend the magazine "Time Out" which gives an in-depth view of events in the city.

More information about London: www.visitlondon.com

Take a look at the activities we have planned for your London trip!

Things to Do in Ealing, West London

Ealing, known as 'Queen of the Suburbs' with its many parks, is one of London's greenest boroughs.

There are excellent local amenities, including the Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre, a well-stocked library, sports facilities, theatre, plenty of restaurants offering a wide range of international food, and, of course, lots of traditional English pubs! Europe's second largest shopping mall, Westfield, is nearby with hundreds of shops, restaurants and a large cinema.

Even if Ealing has an urban charm, it still offers some green parks: Gunnersbury Park and Walpole Park are the biggest and most beautiful parks in Ealing.

The world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, the River Thames, Hampton Court Palace and Osterley House are just a few of the interesting places in the area, whilst Windsor Castle and the city of Oxford are only an hour away by train from Ealing Broadway main line station.

With its many underground, bus and rail links to central London and Heathrow Airport, Ealing is an easy place to reach and a very pleasant place to stay and study.

Keyfacts about London Ealing

  • Ealing is a district of West London
  • Ealing is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing
  • Postcode district: W5, W13
  • Postcode district: NW10
  • Dialling Code: 020
  • Population: ~110.000

Where to eat in London Ealing

Ealing Broadway is full of cafés and restaurants - many offering take away options. Turn left out of the school and explore!
There are also supermarkets nearby with a range of hot and cold food. These include Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Tesco, Marks & Spencer & Costcutter.
The choice of restaurants is wide and it includes many options such as Italian, French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Thai, Caribbean.
There are also plenty of pubs where you can experience authentic British cuisine: fish & chips, sausage & mash, shepherd's pie, apple crumble and much more.

The North Star: The restaurant and Pub started off as a beer shop and is now one of Ealing's most popular watering holes. There is a lot of live music happening and they offer some good food and drink deals.

Santa Maria: The two owners are from italy and they serve traditional neapolitan pizza from the wood oven. It's the place to go for all pizza lovers.

West 5 Bar: It's a really nice place where you can sing your lungs out at Karaoke Night.

Green Spacesto relax and have a good time in London Ealing

London is famous for its parks and Ealing is one of the greenest areas. The nearest parks to the school are:

  • Ealing Common - turn right out of the school and it is in front of you!
  • Walpole Park - a 10 minute walk away, through Ealing Broadway.
  • Gunnersbury Park - a 30 minute walk or a short tube journey to Acton Town.
  • Lammas Park - a 15-20 minute walk through Walpole Park, a short bus journey on the E2 or E3, or a tube ride to Northfields or South Ealing.

We recommend a visit to any of these parks during the day - although you should avoid them after dark.

Where to shop in London Ealing

Shopping tour in London Ealing

Ealing Broadway has a good selection of shops for your everyday needs. If you would like a larger selection, we recommend a trip to Westfield London (one of the largest shopping centres in the city) or Oxford Street. You can easily reach both destinations by taking the Central Line from Ealing Broadway.

Pharmacies: Boots, Superdrug
Mobile phones: Carphone Warehouse, EE, Chitter Chatter, O2, Vodafone, Three
Banks: Lloyds, TSB, Barclays, RBS, HSBC, Metro Bank
Electrical items: Argos, Currys/PC World

Cosy bookshops in London Ealing

You can find a wide range of books - including academic books - at Waterstones in the Ealing Broadway Centre.
For novels and stationery, WHSmith is a good choice. Turn left out of the school and the shop is on your right after a short walk.

Waterstones
64 Ealing Broadway Centre
Ealing
London W5 5JY

WHSmith (also local post office)
Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre
Ealing
London W5 5JY

London Ealing Library

In case you want to improve your reading skills, or if you simply love reading, we encourage you to visit our small library in Room Dover. You'll find books at all levels of English (Elementary to Advanced) - look out for the coloured stickers. If you'd like to borrow a book, please ask at Reception. You can keep it for as long as you like, but you'll need to pay a deposit of £5 which you'll get back when you return the book. Outside the school, the closest library is Ealing Central Library. To register you'll need a letter from the school, which costs £1. Please request one of these at Reception.

Ealing Central Library
103 Ealing Broadway Centre
London W5 5JY

Leisure Centre for your time in London Ealing

Park Royal (just 2 stops away from Ealing Common underground station) has a leisure centre with gym facilities, bowling lanes, restaurants and a multiscreen cinema.

Ealing Beer Festival: Happening from the 10th -13th July 2019. With over 300 beers available from local and regional breweries. Enjoy sampling some of the finest brews the UK has to offer in the splendid surroundings of Wapole Park. Check it out!